Israeli forces kill Palestinian in Jerusalem after alleged attack

A Palestinian man has been shot dead by the Israeli police when he allegedly attempted a stabbing attack outside the Old City in Jerusalem on Saturday.

According to Palestinian official news agency Wafa, witnesses said the man was shot several times and left on the ground bleeding near the Lions’ Gate (also known as Bab al-Asbat) before Israeli paramedics arrived at the scene.

A video posted on social media appeared to show a man in a dark jacket and light blue jeans lying motionless on the ground, with a number of Israeli forces standing nearby.

Israeli police issued a statement saying they had called on the person to stop before “he turned around toward them with the aim of harming them”.

“The police responded quickly while firing toward him, neutralizing him and preventing harm,” the statement said.

Israeli medics said the security forces, while firing on the suspect, had lightly wounded a 42-year-old woman in the leg.

Israeli forces shut down the gates leading to the Old City before later reopening them.

The shooting comes amid heightened tensions after the release of US President Donald Trump’s controversial Middle East plan.

There have been daily clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the plan was released in late January, with five Palestinians killed so far.